[[Image:MEW LANGTON.JPG|thumb|Messrs. W. B. Mew, Langton & Co. Ltd., New Pneumatic Maltings, Newport, Isle of Wight. Brewers' Journal 15th May 1903]]
[[Image:MEW LANGTON.JPG|thumb|Messrs. W. B. Mew, Langton & Co. Ltd., New Pneumatic Maltings, Newport, Isle of Wight. Brewers' Journal 15th May 1903]]
[[File:Newport_MewLangton_OS1907.jpg|thumb|Ordnance Survey extract from 1907. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland (http://maps.nls.uk/index.html)]]
[[Image:Mew IoW 2 dd.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Mew IoW 2 dd.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Mew IoW 2 bb.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Mew IoW 2 aa.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Mew IoW 2.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Mew IoW 2.jpg|thumb]]
<big>'''W B Mew, Langton & Co. Ltd,''' '' Crocker Street, Newport, Isle of Wight.''</big>
[[File:The Kingston Arms.jpg|thumb|Inside the Kingston Arms]]
[[File:Beermat - Strong Country Beers - Mew Langton.jpg|thumb]]
<big>'''W B Mew, Langton & Co. Ltd''', ''Royal Brewery, Crocker Street, Newport, Isle of Wight''</big>
Founded by 1814. Benjamin Mew listed in 1830. Registered December 1887.
Founded by 1814. Benjamin Mew listed in 1830. In an 1859 Directory: Mew W B & Co, 19 Union Street (Ryde), and Cowes and Newport. (See [[Mew's Medina Brewery]]). Registered December 1887.
Acquired by [[Strong & Co Ltd]]. in 1965 with 144 houses and brewing ceased in 1969.
Acquired by [[Strong & Co Ltd]] in 1965 with 144 houses and brewing ceased in 1969. Some buildings remain.
Some buildings remain.
* '''[[List of Mew, Langton & Co Ltd pubs]]'''
* '''[[Mew, Langton & Company: A History]]'''
* '''[[Mew, Langton & Company: An undated series of slides of the brewery]]'''
'''[[List of Mew, Langton & Co Ltd pubs]]'''
'''THE HISTORY OF MEW, LANGTON AND COMPANY by Nick Redman, Whitbread's Company Archivist'''
'''Click on the left or right buttons to scroll through our gallery of Mew, Langton & Co. Click on the Toggle button in the centre to see the thumbnails'''
<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Mew 44.jpg
File:Mew 33.jpg
File:Mew 22.jpg
File:Mew 5.jpg
File:Mew 4.jpg
File:Mew 3.jpg
File:Mew 2.jpg
File:Mew Langton Newport IoW.jpg
File:Mew Langton IoW.jpg
File:Mew_Langton_Newport_IoW_bb.jpg
File:Mew Langton Newport IoW 2&3.jpg
File:Mew I of Wight 1978 aa.jpg |The brewery in 1978
File:Mew I of Wight 1978.jpg|The brewery in 1978
File:Mew Langton IOW zx (1).JPG
File:Mew Langton IOW zx (2).JPG
File:Mew Langton 3rd March 1974.jpg|The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:MEW'S Newport IofW 3 March 1974.jpg|The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langtons Brewery 3 March 1974.jpg|The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langron RD zx (4).jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langton Newport IofW 3.3.74.jpg|The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langton Isle of Wight.JPG| Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Solent Inn IofW.jpg| Courtesy Roy Denison
</gallery>
In 1643 a Mr. Mewes held five plots of land in the Isle of Wight's "capital". Although no document has been found that actually links him with the Mew family, there may well have been a connection. We do know that towards the end of the 18th century Benjamin Mew and his brother formed a partnership called Mew & Co. Brewers, with a brewery in Newport and another in Lymington. They also owned a number of pubs.
In 1850 the company was granted a royal warrant to supply Queen Victoria when she was in residence at Osborne House on the island. Soon afterwards the Newport plant was renamed the Royal Brewery. The firm continued to supply the Royal Household until George V's death in 1936. A 1911 price list includes Osborne Pale Ale and XXXS Nutritious Stout.
'''Click on the left or right buttons to scroll through our gallery of Mew, Langton labels, adverts, etc. Click on the Toggle button in the centre to see the thumbnails'''
<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Mew IoW ad 1860.jpg|An advert from 1860
File:Mew iow ad 1870.jpg|An advert from 1870
File:Mew Langton poster 01.jpg
File:Mew IoW 2 bb.jpg|Royal Pale Ale
File:Mew IoW 2 aa.jpg|XXXX Ale
File:Mew Langron RD zx (1).jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langron RD zx (2).jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langron RD zx (3).jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langron RD zx (5).jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langron RD zx (6).jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langron RD zx (7).jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mews IoW RD zmx.jpg|Courtesy Roy Denison
File:ML Henley Cyder.jpg|Courtesy Keith Osborne
File:ML Nutritious Stout.jpg|Courtesy Keith Osborne
File:ML Osborne.jpg|Courtesy Keith Osborne
File:ML Guinea.jpg|Courtesy Keith Osborne
File:Mew Langton advert playing card zm.jpg
File:Mew Langton.jpg|Letterhead
</gallery>
Mew's other beers at that date included draught Guinea and Family Pale Ale, and bottled XXXX Strong Ale, Special and Oatmeal Stout. Extra capital to fund the growing business came when Walter Langton joined the firm, and in 1887 a limited liability company, Mew Langton & Co Ltd, was formed.
In 1893 a new malthouse was built adopting modern methods, and in 1898 a factory was built for a new venture that has a relevance to today's market-place, the manufacture of mineral waters. New properties were constantly being acquired, and some disposed of, during this period. But not all available opportunities for expansion were taken up. An offer in 1899 of Sweetman's houses at Ryde for £18,000 was refused, and an interest in Carter's houses at Ringwood in 1906 came to nothing. Mew Langton's did eventually acquire [[Henry Charles & Walter Sweetman]]'s George Street Brewery in Ryde with 21 houses for £30,240. To support the business there was a network of stores, depots and branches, and the Lymington site was disposed of by Whitbread only in 1984.
In 1909 Mew Langton's bought a 32-foot cutter for £25 for use as a small barge, but until 1920 trade to the mainland was carried in an old chartered sailing barge. This was replaced by a new motor barge, the Wight. She was 61-feet long and cost £4,250. Wight was replaced by the XXXX, named after Mew Langton's prize-winning ale. With the exception of the Guinness fleet, the XXXX was the last brewery-owned vessel in Britain. She was commissioned in 1948 and operated until sold in 1966.
During World War I, there were "a great number of complaints received of the unsatisfactory condition of the beers" and a large quantity had to be returned to the brewery as unsaleable.
In the Second World War brewing continued throughout, and at one time the Royal was making beer for six other companies.
{{Trade Mark |regno = 177,417|desc=Label design for Osbourne PA. By appointment to her Majesty|date=8/1/1894|seventy=since jan 1873}}
After 1945, the bottled beer store and bottling hall were rebuilt, and many houses were altered and improved. The last of the brewery horses was retired. Mew Langton's bottled XXXX and Nut Ale won prizes at the Brewers' Exhibition at Olympia in 1960 and 1964 respectively.
By 1965, the company had decided to accept a £1.5m merger offer from [[Strong & Co Ltd]] of Romsey. In 1969, bottling and brewing ceased at Newport, and the Royal Brewery became a distribution centre. By the end of the year Strong's had become part of the Whitbread group, and the 144 Mew houses on the island were soon being supplied with both company's products.
In 1973 the newly-established Whitbread Wessex built extensions to the bottled and draught beer storage area, and sited a new tobacco, wine and spirit warehouse in the old Mew Langton mineral water factory.
Five years ago, Whitbread began examining the future of its pubs on the island, which then numbered 112. Many were sold or closed. The Newport depot continued to operate until February this year. Supplies to the company's 40 remaining pubs are ferried across by two ready-assembled trailers from the distribution centre in Southampton.
'''An assortment of images of the brewery'''
<gallery>
File:Mew Langton advert playing card zm.jpg
File:Mew Langton.jpg
File:The Kingston Arms.jpg|Inside the Kingston Arms
Mew 44.jpg
Mew 33.jpg
Mew 22.jpg
Mew 5.jpg
Mew 4.jpg
Mew 3.jpg
Mew 2.jpg
Mew Langton Newport IoW.jpg
Mew Langton IoW.jpg
Mew Langton Newport IoW bb.jpg
Mew Langton Newport IoW 2&3.jpg
Mew iow ad 1870.jpg|An advert from 1870
Mew IoW ad 1860.jpg|An advert from 1860
Mew I of Wight 1978 aa.jpg |The brewery in 1978
Mew I of Wight 1978.jpg |The brewery in 1978
File:Mew Langton poster 01.jpg
File:Mew Langton 3rd March 1974.jpg |The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:MEW'S Newport IofW 3 March 1974.jpg |The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langtons Brewery 3 March 1974.jpg |The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langton Newport IofW 3.3.74.jpg |The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Mew Langton Isle of Wight.JPG | Courtesy Roy Denison
File:Solent Inn IofW.jpg | Courtesy Roy Denison
</gallery>
<gallery>
File:mew langton ship no 2.jpg
File:mew langton ship no 1.jpg
</gallery>
''' An undated series of slides of the brewery'''
<gallery>
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (1).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (2).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (3).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (4).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (5).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (6).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (7).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW 1990s (8).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW zx (2).JPG
File:Mew Langton IoW zx (1).JPG
</gallery>
{{Trade Mark |regno = 177,417|desc=Label design for Osbourne PA. By appointment to her Majesty|date=8/1/1894|seventy=since jan 1873}}
[[category:Isle of Wight]]
[[category:Isle of Wight]]
Latest revision as of 11:09, 23 March 2026
Messrs. W. B. Mew, Langton & Co. Ltd., New Pneumatic Maltings, Newport, Isle of Wight. Brewers' Journal 15th May 1903Ordnance Survey extract from 1907. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland (http://maps.nls.uk/index.html)Inside the Kingston Arms
W B Mew, Langton & Co. Ltd, Royal Brewery, Crocker Street, Newport, Isle of Wight
Founded by 1814. Benjamin Mew listed in 1830. In an 1859 Directory: Mew W B & Co, 19 Union Street (Ryde), and Cowes and Newport. (See Mew's Medina Brewery). Registered December 1887.
Acquired by Strong & Co Ltd in 1965 with 144 houses and brewing ceased in 1969. Some buildings remain.
Click on the left or right buttons to scroll through our gallery of Mew, Langton & Co. Click on the Toggle button in the centre to see the thumbnails
The brewery in 1978
The brewery in 1978
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Click on the left or right buttons to scroll through our gallery of Mew, Langton labels, adverts, etc. Click on the Toggle button in the centre to see the thumbnails
An advert from 1860
An advert from 1870
Royal Pale Ale
XXXX Ale
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Letterhead
Entry in the Trade Mark Registry
Registration No : 177,417 Description : Label design for Osbourne PA. By appointment to her Majesty Date of Application : 8/1/1894 Used Prior to 1875? : since jan 1873
The brewery in 1978
The brewery in 1978
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
The brewery in 1974. Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
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An advert from 1860
An advert from 1870
Royal Pale Ale
XXXX Ale
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Roy Denison
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Courtesy Keith Osborne
Letterhead
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